Drought Monitor: Snowmelt Would Benefit Midwest

According to the National Drought Monitor, 44.53% of the Midwest is drought-free, which compares to 40.47% last week. The monitor notes that moderate precipitation (0.5 – 1.5 inches) fell across parts of Missouri and southern Illinois, improving ponds and lakes. But it also notes that existing snowpack would yield "considerable benefit" to well depths and pond/lake levels in the days and weeks ahead through melting. It also notes that significant precipitation that fell across Minnesota and Wisconsin during the past 90 days is locked away in the snowpack. The scenario is the same across much of northeast Iowa, so no changes were made to the drought across the entire region.